Report: Miles emerges as favorite for Kansas job

Former LSU and Oklahoma State head coach Les Miles has moved to the top of the list of candidates for the soon-to-be vacated position at Kansas, according to The Athletic's Bruce Feldman.

He tweeted this Tuesday afternoon: "Am told by a source that there's a lot of momentum for Les Miles at #KU as the new head coach, and that he's emerged as a frontrunner."

Athletic director Jeff Long announced Sunday that head coach David Beaty will not be retained next season but will remain on the sidelines for the final three games of 2018: at Kansas State on Saturday, at Oklahoma on Nov. 17 and home against Texas on Nov. 23.

The Jayhawks are 3-6 (1-5 Big 12) on the season.

Kansas hired Beaty, now 48, before the 2015 season. He has compiled a 6-39 record. That includes 2-31 in Big 12 games, 1-19 on the road and 2-2 against FCS opponents.

He will receive a $3 million buyout.

Long said Sunday a search for a coach would begin immediately, and college football insiders instantly speculated that Miles could be a good fit.

He coached at Oklahoma State for four seasons (2001-04) and took the Cowboys to three bowl games. He put together a 28-21 record before LSU named him its head coach in 2005. He stayed there until he was dismissed early in the 2016 season and put together an impressive list of achievements: a 114-34 record, an appearance in a bowl game each season and a national title in 2007.

Kansas, on the other hand, hasn't finished above .500 since 2008 and has a 23-94 record from the 2009 season to the present.

On Monday, CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd listed a number of candidates, but said this is why Miles could be the favorite:

"His connections are too obvious to ignore. He and [Long] worked together at Michigan as assistant coach and associate AD, respectively, from 1988-94. Miles has plenty of Big 12 experience having coached Oklahoma State from 2001-04. He would bring immediate credibility as a coach, recruiter and face of the program with no NCAA baggage. Miles, who turns 65 on Saturday, is interested, but there has been no contact between he and Long."